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Sources
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Chung Ju Yung's notes
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Book of Hyundai's Information



Description of Source:

These two books above are my secondary source and an artifact. Chung Ju Yung, the founder and honorary chairman of Hyundai, is my great grandfather. The red book is actually written in hand by Chung Ju Yung before he passed away. However, Hyundai printed it out handed out to vary few people. This is his autobiography. His secret of success, diary, Hyundai's work progress is included. I got most of my informations out of this red book. The book on the left with orange cover on it is my artifact. The orange book is Chung Ju yung's hand written diary during his first construction which is the highway.

Source Type:

The orange book is the primary source because it was written by the own hand of Chung Ju Yung, and the red book is the secondary or written source because even though the biography is written by Chung Ju Yung, still professional writers edited it.

Explanation of the Source's Significant Event:

This book can be seen just as a thick useless book to other people but this book containing all of founder's logic, biography, pictures, secret of success means a lot to our family. I can sometimes see my father reading this entire book before sleep. Perhaps creation of Hyundai is one of the most significant event occurred in Korean history and this book contains all most valuable informations to someday create a company that will impact Korean history.


Interview with my Dad

I had to interview my dad as one of many grandsons about my great grandfather since he passed away.

Q1: Did you had any chance to meet your grandfather?
A1: Yes, indeed. He invited all of his families to his house on special days

Q2: How was he like?
A2: Grand father was very caring and loving all the time. However, he can turn in to a tiger
when he sees his grandsons behaving unsuitable.

Q3: Do you think he was a good leader of a company as a business man's point of view?
A3: Yes, he is definitely a good leader. I know how hard to take care of company since I am
taking care right now. I can still remember his eyes filled with passion.

Q4: How is your life better because of him?
A4: My life is good and I really thank him.

Hats of the Historian

As a detective

As a detective, my role is to research and find evidence proving that a shift/change in history has occurred. Thankfully, my prior knowledge of Chung Ju Yung was more than enough to write an essay because of my continuous reading of his biography since when I was young. However, finding and getting permission to use object for source was difficult just because my family did not wanted others see it.

As a Interpreter

As a interpreter, I must decide exactly what I want to prove historically. My great grandfather passed away and because of that reason, I could not get much more exact information to pull out from. However, I used resources efficiently to have my answers.

As a Judge

As a judge, I will look at the evidence and decide which point of view is correct. I got a conclusion that without Chung Ju Yung's persistence and effort he would not have made a stable company and that is the key to success: Persistence and effort.

As a Philosopher

"Why should I care?" As a philosopher, I have judged and interpreted the collected evidence, and the next final step is to attach meaning to it historically. Hyundai is a company which drew a line in Korean history and it will continue. Our entire family's pride and honor lies in the company.

Time Line of Chung Ju Yung's Significance Event

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Written Recount

Korea’s economy is developing more and more everyday, in part because of large corporation like Hyundai or Samsung. The Hyundai Motor Group exports affordable cars around the world, building good reputation by people and showing the world how good korean cars can make. Although he was not born in a rich family (in fact he barely graduated from elementary school because of lacking of money), I am proud to say my great-grandfather, Chung Ju Yung, is the founder of Hyundai and did some magnificent things in Korean history that will never be erased.
Chung Ju Yung was born on November 25, 1915 in a small little house that is currently in North Korea. As the first and oldest boy of nine siblings, he could not study in good conditions. Who would have imagined that one of the richest man in Korea did not go to middle, or high school? He barely graduated from elementary school. Chung Ju Young dreamed of becoming a school teacher but he was unable to because his family was stuck in poverty, However what I have heard from my grandmother is that he read all kinds of newspapers thoroughly every morning to get an idea of what was going on in the world. In 1993, he attempted to make a forth try to run away to Seoul, to get a job. He went to Seoul many times to find a job, but he was always forced to go home. Finally in fourth time, he managed to stay.
Once Chung Ju Young had reached Seoul, he jumped at any job he could find. He had many small jobs, eventually getting one at a rice store. The new job offered him more advancement and he decided to get a full time job. His effort and exertion eventually won the praise of the customers of the rice shop and the owner that even the owner let him run the shop for 6 whole months. Sadly the owner of the shop died of terrible diseases. Despite the owner had his very own son, he managed to give the store to Chung Ju Yung because of his limitless effort and business skills. Eventually, he became the owner at the age of 22.
The actual Hyundai group started as a small car repair shop called A-do. In this period, the korea was suffering from Japanese’s destruction and the army from America came to help. The main job of A-do was repairing broken cars the Americans used. It was able to bring a good income to his family. He changed the name of the shop of Hyundai and started a construction business where he was abled to get more business. Chung won major government contracts and Hyundai became responsible for building much of South Korea's transportation infrastructure. Soon he became one of wealthiest people in Korea. But he did neglect the management of his motor company. In fact he introduced the first car ‘Pony’ in 1975.
Chung Ju Yung lived his life working very hard. He did not brag about his money. His company is now the most popular and richest company in Korea. He had lots of failure and success and he never gave up. “The have trials and not failed” he said. My life is much better because of this. Since he worked so hard to make a company like this, our whole family can live with no difficulties. Chung Ju Yung’s work will never be forgotten and I am really proud to be his great grandson.